CN117157039A

CN117157039A - Hearing protector with spring element and carrier

Info

Publication number: CN117157039A
Application number: CN202280025524.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 奥斯卡·L·卡勒库尔; 蒂姆·S·耶特贝里
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Current assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Priority date: 2021-04-01
Filing date: 2022-03-25
Publication date: 2023-12-01
Also published as: EP4312923A1; WO2022208261A1; EP4066799A1; AU2022249977A1

Abstract

In a first aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a hearing protector 10 comprising two earmuffs 12A, 12B, each having a cushion 16A, 16B, a cup 14A, 14B, and a carrier 24A, 24B. The hearing protector 10 also includes a headband 18, or alternatively two helmet mounts, having two earmuff attachment devices 22A, 22B and spring elements 30A, 30B. The carriers 24A, 24B and the pads 16A, 16B form a first mass spring system. The cups 14A, 14B and the spring elements 30A, 30B form a second mass-spring system. The spring elements 30A, 30B are constructed and arranged to mechanically decouple the cups 14A, 14B and the carriers 24A, 24B from one another. An advantage of such a hearing protector 10 is that the hearing protector 10 can be designed such that the aspects of comfort and noise attenuation can be addressed more independently of each other. In addition, the forces or pressures applied to the carrier, or alternatively the helmet mount, and thus to the pads 16A, 16B, by the headband 18 do not affect the spring elements 30A, 30B, so that such hearing protector 10 is designed in such a way that the characteristics such as noise attenuation and wearing comfort do not conflict with each other. In a second aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of retrofitting a hearing protector with a spring element 30A, 30B and a carrier 24A, 24B, thereby providing the advantages and effects described above.

Description

Hearing protector with spring element and carrier

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a hearing protector having a spring element and a carrier.

Background

Hearing protectors are commonly used in noisy environments to protect the hearing of a wearer from noise at potentially harmful noise levels. Typically, hearing protectors have two earmuffs or cups that cover the ears of the wearer and are connected to each other by a headband. Each cup is also typically formed of a rigid shell that is provided with a noise attenuating material, such as a foamed material.

It is often desirable to have a hearing protector with user affinity, particularly to encourage persons in noisy environments to actually wear the protector longer. While noise attenuation appears to be the most important feature of hearing protectors, the wearing comfort of such hearing protectors also plays an important role. For example, hearing protectors with good noise attenuation characteristics may be uncomfortable to wear, especially over long periods of time, such as during a work environment throughout a work day. Thus, even brief wear interruptions may lead to hearing impairment.

Hearing protectors are disclosed, for example, in WO2006/58319 or WO 2019/104172.

Sometimes, if uncomfortable to wear, the compliance of the hearing protector will be reduced. Designing a hearing protector for good noise attenuation may result in lower comfort and vice versa, i.e. noise attenuation and wearing comfort may interact. These characteristics of the hearing protector may act in different directions and may even conflict with each other. The noise attenuation characteristics of a hearing protector may depend on the pressure with which the earmuff is pressed against the wearer's ear and head, respectively. Furthermore, the quality of the hearing protector may be important for noise attenuation. On the other hand, such characteristics may ultimately lead to a lower wearing comfort of such hearing protectors, as these characteristics may cause skin irritation due to the applied pressure. Moreover, such hearing protectors can be heavy, resulting in discomfort.

Accordingly, it is desirable to design such a hearing protector such that characteristics such as noise attenuation and wearing comfort do not conflict with each other. There is a need for a hearing protector that has good wearing comfort while providing adequate noise attenuation and vice versa.

Disclosure of Invention

In a first aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a hearing protector comprising two earmuffs, each earmuff comprising a cushion having noise attenuation characteristics, a cup defining a hollow space and having noise attenuation characteristics, and a carrier comprising at least one earmuff mount. The hearing protector further comprises a U-shaped headband for carrying two earmuffs, alternatively two helmet mounts for carrying two earmuffs at the protective helmet. The headband or helmet mount includes two ends, each with an earmuff attachment device for attaching an earmuff to the headband. The pad is connected to the carrier such that the pad is carried by the carrier. Thus, from a noise attenuation point of view, the carrier may be mechanically decoupled from the user's head. The earmuff attachment device of the headband or helmet mount engages with the earmuff mount of the earmuff such that the earmuff is carried by the headband or helmet mount. Each earmuff includes a spring element that connects the cup to the carrier. The carrier and the pad form a first mass spring system. The cup and the spring element form a second mass spring system. The spring element is constructed and arranged to mechanically decouple the cup and the carrier from each other. An advantage of such a hearing protector is that the hearing protector can be designed such that the aspects of comfort and noise attenuation can be solved more independently of each other. Notably, the pad itself exhibits noise attenuation characteristics and contributes to overall noise attenuation. This is because the mechanical interaction between the cup and the carrier is configurable independently of, i.e. separate from, the liner decoupling. The mass of the earmuff is divided into two sub-masses by the spring element. The force or pressure required to properly seal the cushion to the wearer's ear and skin, respectively, can be designed independently of the mass-spring system of the cup and spring element. Furthermore, the force or pressure applied by the headband to the carrier and thus to the cushion does not affect the spring element or cup, neither static compression nor increased stiffness. It should be noted that the carrier generally provides the force required to hold the earmuff firmly in place, i.e. reliably covers or seals the ear of the wearer, with the result that two configurable resonances, namely the cushion-carrier and the spring element-cup, respectively. Furthermore, the arrangement according to the present disclosure may prevent compression of the spring element by pressure applied to the carrier and provide for proper positioning and pressing of the cushion on the skin of the wearer, which is required for noise attenuation and sealing.

Mechanical decoupling within the meaning of the present disclosure is understood as a frequency dependent change in the transmission of vibrations acting on one part of the hearing protector to another part of the hearing protector. For example, vibrations acting on the cup will have a variable transmission to the carrier, depending on the frequency, and indirectly to the sound pressure level of the interior air chamber of the hearing protector. Mechanical decoupling may be affected at sound frequencies (e.g. 20-20 kHz), but is also important at lower frequencies and will be dominated by the resonance of the mass-spring system. The system mainly comprises two configurable resonances, namely a pad-carrier resonance and a spring element-cup resonance, respectively.

Noise attenuation within the meaning of the present disclosure is understood to consist of noise attenuation and sound absorption for the earmuffs. Noise attenuation represents acoustic energy that is reflected away from the earmuff so as not to reach the user's eardrum, and on the other hand, sound absorption represents acoustic energy being converted to heat. In other words, a noise reduction affecting the wearer's ear is thereby achieved with respect to the noise level around the wearer. In one aspect, noise attenuation may be done passively through the construction of the hearing protector, for example, through the use of sound-insulating and/or sound-absorbing materials, such as plastics, foam, or foamed materials. The low frequency portion of sound attenuation is controlled by the system of mass, springs and dampers. In the present disclosure, a second order system is presented, namely two masses corresponding to the carrier and cup and two springs corresponding to the pad and spring element. In contrast, a conventional earmuff would consist of a first order system, where the mass corresponds to the combination of cup and carrier, and the spring corresponds to the cushion. In addition, there are additional masses, dampers and springs, such as the internal air chamber of the cup and the headband, etc., but for simplicity of illustration, a first or second order system is chosen, respectively. On the other hand, noise attenuation may also be active, wherein the hearing protector is configured with a so-called noise cancellation function. The noise canceling function is generally provided by electronic components including a microphone for picking up sound from the outside or inside of the earmuff and a speaker for emitting sound to the ear of the wearer in the earmuff and a component for converting the sound picked up by the microphone into sound emitted by the speaker. Typically, the conversion includes a phase shift between the picked up sound and the emitted sound such that sound waves emitted by the speaker compensate for sound penetrating into the earmuff towards a lower sound amplitude than the result of merely penetrating the sound amplitude.

Within the meaning of the present disclosure, the cup is part of the earmuff of the hearing protector and is typically formed by a substantially rigid shell. The cup defines a hollow space and is preferably shaped as a hemisphere or substantially hemispherical. The cup has a closed end which in use faces away from the wearer's ear and preferably an annular rim which in use faces towards the wearer's ear. The cup typically has noise attenuation characteristics due to its material, due to noise attenuating material therein, and/or due to its shape and/or geometry. The cup may contain a hearing protector component inside the hollow shape, or a component attached to the cup at other locations (such as on the outside or top of the cup), for example an electronic component such as a speaker, printed circuit board, sensor, microphone or battery. Within the meaning of the present disclosure, a cup generally refers to a mass component, wherein the cup of a hearing protector generally has a dedicated mass. Generally, the higher the mass, the better the noise attenuation, as higher mass requires higher acoustic energy to move. Thus, for a cup with a higher quality, the resulting sound pressure level at the ear will thus be lower. Ways to add mass include selecting the shape and/or material of the cup and/or by adding additional weight to an existing cup having a certain weight.

Within the meaning of the present disclosure, the carrier is part of the earmuff of the hearing protector. The carrier connects the cups of the earmuffs to the pads of the earmuffs on the one hand and the earmuffs to the headband on the other hand. The carrier includes an earmuff mount for attaching the earmuff to the headband. The earmuff mount engages or connects to an earmuff attachment device present at the headband. The carrier is adapted to carry the pad. The carrier may be annular and may be shaped and sized substantially according to the shape and size of the cup and/or pad of the earmuff. The carrier provides the force or pressure required to press the cushion against the skin of the wearer to seal within a precise noise attenuation.

Within the meaning of the present disclosure, a gasket is used to seal a space formed by a corresponding earmuff at the head of a wearer when the wearer wears the hearing protector. Preferably, the cushion is shaped to extend around the ear of the wearer. The earmuffs so configured are also known in the hearing protectors and headset arts as "ear-covering" earmuffs. The cushion also mechanically decouples the carrier such that it enables stiffness and internal damping of the cushion spring as experienced by the mass (i.e. the carrier), which enables noise attenuation of the internal air cavity of the hearing protector. The pad is preferably generally oval. Other shapes of padding are also contemplated, such as not extending around the wearer's ear, but rather being placed over the wearer's ear, thus representing an "ear-mounted" earmuff. Preferably, the cushion comprises a soft, conformable and/or compressible material that conforms to the skin and/or ear of the wearer such that a seal is achieved and noise can enter the interior of the earmuff to only a small extent. Typical suitable materials may include foamed plastic materials such as Polyethylene (PE). The foamed material may comprise an open or closed cell foam or a material that is given conformability. In addition, the cushion pad may include a sheath that encapsulates the soft material, which helps prevent sound from propagating through the pad. The sheath may be a plastic material selected from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU). In addition, the liner may be formed into a hollow shape defining a tubular interior that may be filled with gas or air to provide air suspension. Those skilled in the art will recognize other configurations for providing a cushioning pad that can conform to and seal against the head of a wearer.

Within the meaning of the present disclosure, a headband is an elongated strip-shaped portion connecting two earmuffs of a hearing protector, such that the two earmuffs can be placed on or over the ears of a wearer. The headband is generally U-shaped with two ends so that it fits over the wearer's head and so that it facilitates positioning the earmuffs over or on the wearer's ears. The headband applies a certain force or pressure to the earmuff and cushion, respectively, to ensure an accurate fit of the hearing protector. Typically, the force or pressure is in the range of 1N to 10N, as measured according to european standard EN 352-1, month 10 2002, or as defined in this document. Typically, the headband includes attachment means for releasably or fixedly connecting the earmuffs thereto. Each earmuff of a hearing protector is typically attached to one end of a headband. In the case of helmets used with earmuffs, the headband may be replaced by a helmet attachment device for the earmuff (see, for example, european product standard EN 352-3, 10 in 2002). Thus, it will be clear to a person skilled in the art that instead of a headband, a helmet mount may be arranged for carrying or attaching an earmuff to a protective helmet. Thus, the earmuffs are ultimately carried by the protective helmet to which the helmet mount is attachable.

Within the meaning of the present disclosure, a spring element is an element that connects a carrier to a cup of a hearing protector. The spring element facilitates mechanical decoupling of the carrier from the cup of the earmuff such that it enables stiffness and internal damping of the spring element as experienced by the mass (i.e. cup and carrier). It is noted that the pad of the hearing protector may generally provide a spring function in addition to the spring element according to the present disclosure. The spring element helps to split the mass of the earmuff into two masses, resulting in a second order mass spring system. The spring element may be annular and may comprise a mechanically damping material, such as an elastomeric material. It is noted that the material and shape of the spring element contributes to the decoupled spring function. The spring element may be configured to compensate for noise attenuation to create comfort of stiffness/damping changes in the cushion.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of retrofitting a hearing protector with a spring element and a carrier. The hearing protector includes two earmuffs, each earmuff including a cushion having noise attenuation characteristics, a cup defining a hollow space and having noise attenuation characteristics, wherein each cup includes an earmuff mount. The hearing protector further comprises a U-shaped headband for carrying two earmuffs, alternatively two helmet mounts for carrying two earmuffs at the protective helmet. The or each helmet mount comprises two ends, each end having an earmuff attachment means for attaching an earmuff to the or each helmet mount. The liner is connected to the cup such that the liner is carried by the cup. The earmuff attachment device of the headband or helmet mount engages with the earmuff mount of the earmuff such that the earmuff is carried by the headband or helmet mount. The method comprises the following steps: removing the liner from the cup; detaching the earmuff from the headband or from the helmet mount by separating the earmuff mount of the cup from the earmuff attachment device; assembling the spring element at the cup such that the spring element is carried by the cup; assembling the carrier to a side of the spring element opposite to the side of the assembly cup such that the carrier is carried by the spring element; the cushion is assembled to the carrier on the opposite side of the carrier from which the spring element is assembled such that the cushion is carried by the carrier and the earmuffs are assembled to the headband or helmet mount. An advantage of such a method of retrofitting a hearing protector with a spring element and a carrier is that conventional hearing protectors are equipped such that the above-mentioned advantages and effects of a hearing protector with a spring element and a carrier are achieved even for hearing protectors that otherwise do not have a spring element and a carrier.

In one embodiment, the spring element of the hearing protector is annular. An advantage of such a shape is that the shape resembles the other parts of the hearing protector, which are typically ring-shaped. Furthermore, the annular shape allows other components to be arranged therein without space limitations. In addition, the spring element may also provide additional space for the pinna of the wearer's ear, i.e. help provide more design options.

In another embodiment, the spring element of the hearing protector comprises an elastomeric material. Such elastomeric material may help facilitate mechanical decoupling from the cushioned carrier provided by the spring element of the cup. Elastomeric materials generally exhibit good mechanical damping characteristics. Such materials may also be suitable for manufacturing spring elements having a stiffness similar to the typical stiffness of the cushion. Preferably, the spring element of the hearing protector comprises a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), synthetic rubber, foam or foamed material, silicone, metal and/or combinations thereof. Such materials generally exhibit good mechanical damping characteristics. Such materials may also be suitable for spring elements having similar stiffness as compared to the cushion.

In yet another embodiment, the spring element of the hearing protector is constructed and arranged such that the resonance frequency of the pad together with the carrier is similar to or higher than the resonance frequency of the cup together with the spring element. An advantage of such an arrangement is that good damping properties are thereby achieved, in particular in the frequency range above the resonance frequency.

In another embodiment, the cup of the hearing protector comprises a rigid material. Such rigid materials help to provide a strong and reliable design of the cup and the hearing protector, respectively. In particular, the rigid material helps to provide good shape retention characteristics of the cup. The rigid material is typically selected from ABS, PP, PA, PC, PVC and typically exhibits a stiffness of 1000MPa to 3000 MPa. Alternatively, the cup may be made of a semi-rigid material, such as a high durometer elastomer or a composite of a rigid plastic and an elastomer. The rigid or semi-rigid material helps the cup provide a specific resonance frequency, which may be used to control some resonance frequencies at high frequencies, for example. However, these resonance frequencies are different from those controlled by the mass/spring system.

In one embodiment, the cup of the hearing protector comprises a moldable material, preferably an injection moldable material, wherein the material is preferably selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), polyvinylchloride, metal, or a combination thereof. An advantage of such moldable materials is that these materials can be easily manufactured to have the desired shape required for the cup, in particular the desired weight and thickness of the walls defining the hollow space. Composites with different materials, for example composites of metal and polymeric materials such as polyethylene or polypropylene, are also contemplated. Such composites may be advantageous because the metals in such compounds generally exhibit good mechanical stability as well as electromagnetic interference protection properties. It is noted that this also affects the resonance at higher frequencies, however, unlike the resonance affected by the mass/spring system.

In another embodiment, the cup of the hearing protector has a hemispherical shape. Typically, the hemispherical shape has a closed end which in use faces away from the wearer's ear and an open end which in use faces towards the wearer's ear. The open end may be connected to a spring element of the hearing protector. It is noted that deviations from a perfect hemisphere, e.g. having an oval or elliptical cross-section in one or more planes, are also understood to be hemispherical shapes within the meaning of the present disclosure. An advantage of such hemispherical shapes is that although defining a hollow space, there are no sharp edges or corners.

In another embodiment, the cup of the hearing protector comprises a rim connected or attached to the spring element, wherein the rim is preferably annular. The advantage of such an edge is that the connection to the carrier is thereby simplified, in particular for a ring-shaped edge connected to a preferably ring-shaped carrier.

In another embodiment, the carrier of the hearing protector is annular. An advantage of such an annular shape of the carrier is that the shape resembles the other, typically annular, parts of the hearing protector. Furthermore, the ring shape allows other components to be arranged without space restrictions, such as components arranged within the earmuff that can protrude into the carrier.

In a preferred embodiment, the shape and size of the pad and carrier of the hearing protector are substantially identical to each other. Such a shape and size has the advantage that it is thereby easy and reliable to assemble. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this includes arrangements in which the cross-section of the pad is slightly larger than the cross-section of the carrier for comfort and/or to prevent the carrier from contacting the skin.

In another preferred embodiment, the shape and size of the spring and cup of the hearing protector are substantially identical to each other. Such a shape and size has the advantage that it is thereby easy and reliable to assemble.

In another preferred embodiment, the shape and dimensions of the pad, carrier, spring element and cup are substantially identical to each other. Such a shape and size has the advantage that it is thereby easy and reliable to assemble.

In one embodiment, the carrier of the hearing protector comprises a rigid material. Such rigid materials help to provide a strong and reliable design of the carrier and the hearing protector, respectively. In particular, the rigid material helps to provide good shape retention characteristics of the carrier and to facilitate positioning of the earmuffs attached thereto. In particular, the rigid carrier may facilitate the application of an appropriate force or pressure to the earmuff for proper positioning and sealing of the cushion attached to the carrier. The rigid material is typically selected from ABS, PP, PA, PC, PVC and exhibits a stiffness of 1000MPa to 3000 MPa. Alternatively, the carrier may be made of a semi-rigid material, such as a high durometer elastomer or a composite of a rigid plastic and an elastomer.

In another embodiment, the carrier of the hearing protector comprises a moldable material, preferably an injection moldable material, wherein the material is preferably selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), polyvinylchloride, metal or combinations thereof. An advantage of such moldable materials is that these materials can be easily manufactured to have the desired shape required for the carrier, in particular the desired mechanical stability necessary for the correct positioning of the earmuffs attached to the carrier. Compounds having different materials, for example a composite of a metal and a polymeric material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, are also contemplated. Such composites may be advantageous because the metals in such composites generally exhibit good mechanical stability as well as electromagnetic interference protection properties.

In yet another embodiment, the cup and/or carrier of the hearing protector further comprises electronic components, wherein the electronic components preferably comprise a speaker, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), a sensor, a microphone and/or a battery. The advantage of arranging the components of the hearing protector in the cup and/or carrier is that a compact and robust design is thereby achieved. Moreover, the effects of moisture, corrosion and/or mechanical damage of such components are thereby avoided or reduced. When arranged in this way, the components do not protrude from the hearing protector. Furthermore, an additional mass of the component can thereby be provided, which contributes to an improved sound attenuation.

In another embodiment, the carrier of the hearing protector further comprises an inner hemisphere connected to the carrier and arranged within the cup such that a gap is formed between the inner hemisphere and the cup. Such an inner hemisphere arranged within the cup of the hearing protector is advantageous in that the hollow space defined by the cup is thereby divided into two subspaces, wherein a double wall structure is advantageous for good noise attenuation, providing an additional air chamber in addition to the hollow space defined by the cup. Preferably, the gap between the inner hemisphere and the cup includes noise attenuating material and/or electronic components. Such materials may include, for example, polyurethane foam, PVC foam, or melamine foam. Such electronic components may for example comprise a speaker, a microphone, a sensor or other electronic components of the active noise cancellation unit, the active communication unit and/or other components required for operating the hearing protector. Such an arrangement is useful because it provides a space-saving and compact arrangement of electronic components within the cup of the hearing protector. Furthermore, the mass of the cup may thereby increase. The arrangement of the noise attenuating material is advantageous in that it further supports the sound and noise attenuation properties of the cup and the hearing protector, respectively. It is noted that maximizing the inner hemisphere may be beneficial because the sound pressure delivered to the ear is essentially acoustic energy per unit volume in the cavity. The larger the volume, the lower the sound pressure, i.e. the lower the acoustic energy per unit volume. On the other hand, the air cavity of the gap will influence the stiffness seen through the cup, i.e. in combination with the stiffness of the spring element.

In yet another embodiment, the cushion of the hearing protector is constructed and arranged such that the cushion encloses the wearer's ear. Typically, the cushion is annular or oval in shape to fit around the wearer's ear. Such an "ear-covering" arrangement is beneficial because the pad provides a good seal with the wearer's skin, thereby facilitating good noise-canceling properties of the hearing protector.

In yet another embodiment, the liner of the hearing protector comprises a conformable and/or compressible material such that in use the liner conforms to the skin of the wearer, thereby forming a sound seal between the earmuff and the skin of the wearer. The conformable and/or compressible material may compensate for uneven and irregularly shaped surfaces provided, for example, by the skin of the wearer. Due to the deformation of the cushion material, good contact with the skin and good comfort can be achieved. Such a conformable material for the cushion has the advantage that it conforms to the skin and/or ear of the wearer, such that good sealing and comfort is achieved and no or only a small amount of noise can enter the interior of the earmuff. Preferably, the cushion comprises foam or foamed material. The foam or foamed material may comprise an open cell foam or a closed cell foam. Such foams or foamed materials exhibit good conformability and/or compressibility, and thus, these materials represent an easy and reliable way to provide a cushion with a conformable and/or compressible material.

In another embodiment, the liner may comprise a combination of different materials. For example, the liner may include a surface layer made of a relatively strong material, and may also include a relatively soft conformable and/or compressible material. An advantage of such a combination is that while providing conformability and/or compressibility of the cushion, it provides reasonable robustness. It is also contemplated that the liner has an airtight outer layer filled with a fluid (e.g., air), which provides the desired conformability and/or compressibility. Such solutions may provide increased conformability and/or compressibility, resulting in improved comfort and/or sealing characteristics of the cushion. Other composites are also contemplated, such as materials that differ in their conformability and/or compressibility, such that the softer material is disposed toward the skin of the wearer when in use, while the relatively stronger material is disposed away from the skin of the wearer when in use.

In yet another embodiment, the hearing protector comprises an active noise cancellation unit and/or an active communication unit arranged in or at one or both cups. The active noise cancellation unit or function as described above may provide an improved noise attenuation characteristic for the hearing protector. The active communication unit may provide the hearing protector with increased functionality, i.e. thereby enabling voice communication with other persons, entertainment audio and/or reproduction of ambient sound. At the same time, such units can increase the weight of the cup, resulting in an increase in the mass of the cup within the meaning of a mass spring system. It is noted that some components of the active noise cancellation unit and/or the active communication unit may be placed outside the cup, e.g. a sensor that may be placed outside the cup.

In a certain embodiment, the speaker, sensor and/or accelerometer are arranged in a gap between the inner hemisphere and the cup of the hearing protector. An advantage of such an arrangement is that the components placed in the gap, in particular the sensor, are protected from shocks in the inner cavity by this position, for example when walking while wearing the hearing protector.

In a certain embodiment, the hearing protector comprises an active noise cancellation unit configured and arranged to provide noise cancellation in a frequency region close to the resonance frequency of the hearing protector. An advantage of such an active noise cancellation unit is that the noise attenuation is compensated for in a certain frequency region where the passive attenuation is low.

In one embodiment, the resonance frequencies of the pad and the carrier of the hearing protector are chosen on the one hand and the resonance frequencies of the spring element and the cup on the other hand, so that these resonance frequencies are adapted to the specific noise environment. With such an arrangement, a customized noise attenuation of the hearing protector for a specific noise environment is achieved. It is also conceivable to construct and arrange the pad and carrier by taking the resonance frequency of the pad and carrier into account together with the resonance frequency of the cup and spring element such that low frequency, high frequency or flat sound attenuation properties are achieved. This is advantageous because the overall noise attenuation of different noise environments is thereby improved.

In another embodiment, the spring element of the hearing protector is constructed and arranged such that the resonance frequency of the pad together with the carrier is adapted to the frequency characteristics of the specific noise environment when combined with the resonance frequency of the cup together with the spring element. An advantage of such an arrangement is that good noise attenuation is achieved and even improved for certain noise environments.

The invention is described in the various embodiments above. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one, several, or all of the above-described embodiments can be combined with one another.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention:

drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional front view of a hearing protector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of a hearing protector according to the present disclosure worn by a wearer.

Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an earmuff and a portion of a headband or helmet mount of a hearing protector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 is a perspective schematic cross-sectional view of the earmuff shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the earmuff shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an earmuff and a portion of a headband or helmet mount of a hearing protector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the earmuff shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective schematic cross-sectional view of the earmuff shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an earmuff of a hearing protector according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Fig. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an earmuff of a hearing protector according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hearing protector 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The hearing protector 10 includes two earmuffs 12A, 12B connected and carried by a headband 18. It should be appreciated that there may be two helmet mounts (not shown here) for carrying earmuffs 12A, 12B, rather than headband 18. The earmuffs 12A, 12B each include an earmuff mount 20A, 20B, with each of the earmuffs 12A, 12B being attached to a corresponding earmuff attachment device 22A, 22B of the headband 18 by the earmuff mount 20A, 20B. Whereby the earmuffs 12A, 12B are carried by the headband 18. The earmuffs 12A, 12B each include a cup 14A, 14B defining a hollow space therein. In this hollow space, parts of the components of the hearing protector 10 may be accommodated, such as a printed circuit board 36 on which the electronic components 32, 34 are mounted, a sensor 44A for one of the earmuffs 12A, 12B, or a microphone 46A, as shown in fig. 1. However, it is contemplated that both earmuffs 12A, 12B include portions that are shown in fig. 1 for only one earmuff 12A, 12B. The earmuffs 12A, 12B may also include electronic components 40A, 40B, such as amplifiers 40A, 40B, for speakers 42A, 42B as shown in fig. 1, as part of an active noise cancellation unit and/or as part of an active communication unit. Earmuffs 12A, 12B also each include a carrier 24A, 24B (not shown in fig. 1, see fig. 2). The earmuff mounts 20A, 20B are part of the carriers 24A, 24B and extend from the carriers 24A, 24B. Each of the carriers 24A, 24B has a pad 16A, 16B attached thereto. The pads 16A, 16B comprise a soft, comfortable and/or compressible material to seal the earmuffs 12A, 12B to the skin (not shown in fig. 1, see fig. 2) of the wearer 100. The gaskets 16A, 16B and the carriers 24A, 24B are preferably annular in shape and preferably substantially conform to each other in shape and size so that an easy and reliable connection therebetween is achieved. The carrier 24A, 24B and/or the pad 16A, 16B may include attachment means, such as adhesive or mechanical attachment means (not shown herein), to facilitate attachment to each other. The earmuffs 12A, 12B also each include a spring element 30A, 30B (not visible in fig. 1, see fig. 2), each of the spring elements 30A, 30B being attached to each of the carriers 24A, 24B on a side opposite the cushion 16A, 16B.

Fig. 2 shows a similar embodiment of the hearing protector 10 as shown in fig. 1 worn by a user or wearer 100 in a schematic front view. The hearing protector 10 is worn such that each ear cup fits over a wearer's ear (not shown here). The hearing protector 10 shown here includes the same parts and components as shown in fig. 1, and further includes a microphone 74 disposed at a microphone boom 70 extending from one of the earmuffs 12B, and an antenna 72 extending from one of the earmuffs 12A. The microphone 70 and the antenna 72 may be part of the active communication unit of the hearing protector 10, but the antenna 72 may also transmit different signals than speech signals, such as data signals from the sensor 46A shown in fig. 1. The hearing protector 10 includes two earmuffs 12A, 12B connected and carried by a headband 18. The earmuffs 12A, 12B each include an earmuff mount 20A, 20B, with each of the earmuffs 12A, 12B being attached to a corresponding earmuff attachment device 22A, 22B of the headband 18 by the earmuff mount 20A, 20B. Whereby the earmuffs 12A, 12B are carried by the headband 18. It should be appreciated that there may be two helmet mounts (not shown here) for carrying earmuffs 12A, 12B, rather than headband 18. The earmuffs 12A, 12B each include a cup 14A, 14B defining a hollow space therein. In this hollow space, parts of the components of the hearing protector 10 may be accommodated, such as a printed circuit board 36 on which the electronic components 32, 34 are mounted, a sensor 44A for one of the earmuffs 12A, 12B, or a microphone 46A, as shown in fig. 1. However, it is contemplated that both earmuffs 12A, 12B include portions that are shown in fig. 1 for only one earmuff 12A, 12B. The earmuffs 12A, 12B may also include electronic components 40A, 40B, such as amplifiers 40A, 40B, for speakers 42A, 42B as shown in fig. 1, as part of an active noise cancellation unit and/or as part of an active communication unit. Earmuffs 12A, 12B also each include a carrier 24A, 24B. The earmuff mounts 20A, 20B are part of the carriers 24A, 24B and extend from the carriers 24A, 24B. Each of the carriers 24A, 24B has a pad 16A, 16B attached thereto. The pads 16A, 16B comprise a soft, comfortable and/or compressible material to seal the earmuffs 12A, 12B to the skin of the wearer 100. The gaskets 16A, 16B and the carriers 24A, 24B are preferably annular in shape and preferably substantially conform to each other in shape and size so that an easy and reliable connection therebetween is achieved. The carrier 24A, 24B and/or the pad 16A, 16B may include attachment means, such as adhesive or mechanical attachment means (not shown herein), to facilitate attachment to each other. The earmuffs 12A, 12B also each include a spring element 30A, 30B, each of the spring elements 30A, 30B being attached to each of the carriers 24A, 24B on a side opposite the cushion 16A, 16B. As shown in fig. 2, earmuffs 12A, 12B each include a cup 14A, 14B, with each of the cups 14A, 14B being attached to a spring element 30A, 30B on a side opposite the location where the carrier 24A, 24B is attached to the spring element 30A, 30B, 24A, 24B.

Fig. 3 shows one of the earmuffs 12B of the hearing protector 10 as shown in fig. 1 in more detail in a perspective schematic view. As shown, earmuff 12B is attached by its earmuff mount 20B extending from carrier 24B to an earmuff attachment device 22B of headband 18 (only a portion of which is shown here). It should be understood that there may be two helmet mounts (only a portion of which is indicated here at 18) for carrying earmuffs 12A, 12B, rather than a headband 18. As shown in fig. 3, the earmuff 12B includes a cup 14B attached to one side of the spring element 30B. The carrier 24B is attached to the spring element 30B on the opposite side of the attachment cup 14B. The gasket 16B is attached to the carrier 24B on the opposite side of the side to which the spring element 30B is attached. Preferably, as shown in fig. 3, the cushion 16B, carrier 24B and spring element 30B are annular. Furthermore, the cup 14B of the earmuff 12B has an open side opposite the closed side, which has a preferably annular rim with which the cup 14B is attached to the above-mentioned preferably annular spring element 30B. It should be understood that the constructional details shown in fig. 3 and described above, although shown and mentioned for only one of the ear muffs, may also be present on both ear muffs.

Fig. 4 shows the earmuff 12B as shown in fig. 3 in more detail in a perspective schematic cross-sectional view. As shown, the attachment means 16D, 24D are arranged to connect the pad 16B with the carrier 24B on one side thereof. Furthermore, the attachment means 24F, 30D are arranged to attach the spring element 30B to a side of the carrier 16B opposite to the side of the attachment pad 16B. The attachment means 30F, 14D are arranged on the opposite side of the spring element 30B to the side of the attachment carrier 16B in order to attach the cup 14B to the spring element 30B. One, some or all of the attachment means 16D, 24F, 30D, 30F, 14D may be formed as an adhesive or mechanical attachment means, such as a threaded portion, bayonet, or snap fit connection. However, it is also contemplated that one, some or all of the attachment devices 16D, 24F, 30D, 30F, 14D may be formed as a combined adhesive and mechanical attachment device. Fig. 4 also shows an opening 17B in the cushion 16B, preferably annular, which facilitates the encapsulation of the wearer's ear (not shown here) by the earmuff 12B. It should be understood that the constructional details shown in fig. 4 and described above, although shown and mentioned for only one of the ear muffs, may also be present on both ear muffs.

Fig. 5 shows in a more simplified manner a schematic cross-sectional side view of an earmuff 12B of the hearing protector 10 as shown in fig. 1. As shown, the cushion 16B is attached to one side of the headgear attachment device 24B. The spring element 30B is attached to one side of the carrier 24B opposite to the side to which the pad 16B is attached. Furthermore, the cup 14B is attached to the opposite side of the spring element 30B to the side of the attachment carrier 24B. Similar to fig. 4, cushion 16B includes an opening 17B that facilitates the encapsulation of a wearer's ear (not shown here) by earmuff 12B. It should be understood that the constructional details shown in fig. 5 and described above, although shown and mentioned for only one of the ear muffs, may also be present on both ear muffs.

Fig. 6 illustrates in a perspective schematic view an earmuff 12B of a hearing protector 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Unlike the previous embodiments, the earmuffs 12B also include attachment rings 31B, with the attachment rings 31B shown for only one earmuff 12B, but it should be understood that both earmuffs 12A, 12B may include attachment rings 31A, 31B. The attachment ring 31B is placed between the spring element 30B and the carrier 24B such that, unlike the previous embodiments, one side of the attachment ring 31B is attached to one side of the carrier 24B, i.e., to the opposite side of one side of the attachment pad 16B, and the other side is attached to one side of the spring element 30B, i.e., to the opposite side of one side of the attachment cup 14B. Fig. 6 also shows a portion of the headband 18. It should be understood that there may be two helmet mounts (only a portion of which is indicated here at 18) for carrying earmuffs 12A, 12B, rather than a headband 18.

Fig. 7 illustrates, in schematic cross-sectional side view, an earmuff 12B of a hearing protector 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner hemisphere 24H is disposed as part of the carrier 24B. The inner hemisphere 24H may be an integral part of the carrier 24B or may be attached to the carrier 24B with a suitable adhesive or mechanical attachment means. The inner hemisphere 24H defines a hollow space on the one hand and a gap 24J between the inner hemisphere 24H and the cup 24B on the other hand together with the cup 14B. It should be appreciated that the inner hemisphere 24H and the gap 24J may exist on one or both of the earmuffs 12A, 12B, respectively. As described above, the inner hemisphere 24H divides the hollow space defined by the cup 14B into two hollow spaces or subspaces, respectively, which results in and contributes to improved noise attenuation using a double wall structure. The additional air chamber may also be used in an active system to locate speakers and/or microphones/sensors (not shown here). As shown, the attachment means 16D, 24D are arranged to connect the pad 16B with the carrier 24B on one side thereof. Furthermore, the attachment means 24F, 30D are arranged to attach the spring element 30B to a side of the carrier 16B opposite to the side of the attachment pad 16B. The attachment means 30F, 14D are arranged on the opposite side of the spring element 30B to the side of the attachment carrier 16B in order to attach the cup 14B to the spring element 30B. One, some or all of the attachment means 16D, 24F, 30D, 30F, 14D may be formed as an adhesive or mechanical attachment means, such as a threaded portion, bayonet, or snap fit connection. However, it is also contemplated that one, some or all of the attachment devices 16D, 24F, 30D, 30F, 14D may be formed as a combined adhesive and mechanical attachment device. Fig. 7 also shows a portion of the headband 18 as shown in fig. 1 and 2 above. It should be understood that there may be two helmet mounts (only a portion of which is indicated here at 18) for carrying earmuffs 12A, 12B, rather than a headband 18. As mentioned above, fig. 7 shows, in addition to the arrangement of fig. 4, an attachment ring 31B between the spring element 30B and the carrier 24B. Thus, as shown in fig. 7, there are further attachment means 31D, 31F to attach the attachment ring 31B to the attachment means 24F of the carrier 24B on the one hand and to the attachment means 30D of the spring element 30B on the other hand. Fig. 7 also shows an opening 17B in the cushion 16B, preferably annular, which facilitates the enclosure of the wearer's ear (not shown here) by the earmuff 12B. In addition, fig. 7 shows a gasket 16B having a hollow shape defining a tubular interior 17D therein. For example, the interior 17D may be filled with gas or air and provide a soft cushion 16B without the use of foam or foam material, but with air suspension to achieve the desired conformability or compressibility of the cushion 16B. It is noted that while the interior 17D, attachment ring 31B, and inner hemisphere 24H with gap 24J are shown together in fig. 7, only one, some, or all of these features are present in earmuff 12B. It is also noted that one, some or all of these features are present in one or both of the earmuffs 12A, 12B.

Fig. 8 shows in perspective cross-sectional side view the earmuff 12B of the hearing protector 10 as shown in fig. 7. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner hemisphere 24H is disposed as part of the carrier 24B. The inner hemisphere 24H may be an integral part of the carrier 24B or may be attached to the carrier 24B with a suitable adhesive or mechanical attachment means. The inner hemisphere 24H defines a hollow space therein on the one hand and, together with the cup 14B, defines a gap 24J therebetween. It should be appreciated that the inner hemisphere 24H and the gap 24J may exist on one or both of the earmuffs 12A, 12B, respectively. As described above, the inner hemisphere 24H divides the hollow space defined by the cup 14B into two hollow spaces or subspaces, respectively, which results in/contributes to improved noise attenuation using a double wall structure. The additional air chamber may also be used in an active system to locate speakers and/or microphones/sensors (not shown here). As shown, the attachment means 16D, 24D are arranged to connect the pad 16B with the carrier 24B on one side thereof. Furthermore, the attachment means 24F, 30D are arranged to attach the spring element 30B to a side of the carrier 16B opposite to the side of the attachment pad 16B. The attachment means 30F, 14D are arranged on the opposite side of the spring element 30B to the side of the attachment carrier 16B in order to attach the cup 14B to the spring element 30B. One, some or all of the attachment means 16D, 24F, 30D, 30F, 14D may be formed as an adhesive or mechanical attachment means, such as a threaded portion, bayonet, or snap fit connection. However, it is also contemplated that one, some or all of the attachment devices 16D, 24F, 30D, 30F, 14D may be formed as a combined adhesive and mechanical attachment device. Fig. 8 also shows a portion of the headband 18 as shown in fig. 1 and 2 above. It should be understood that there may be two helmet mounts (only a portion of which is indicated here at 18) for carrying earmuffs 12A, 12B, rather than a headband 18. As mentioned above, in addition to the arrangement of fig. 4, fig. 8 also shows an attachment ring 31B between the spring element 30B and the carrier 24B. Thus, as shown in fig. 8, there are further attachment means 31D, 31F to attach the attachment ring 31B to the attachment means 24F of the carrier 24B on the one hand and to the attachment means 30D of the spring element 30B on the other hand. Fig. 8 also shows an opening 17B in the cushion 16B, preferably annular, which facilitates the encapsulation of the wearer's ear (not shown here) by the earmuff 12B. In addition, fig. 8 shows a gasket 16B having a hollow shape defining a tubular interior 17D therein. For example, the interior 17D may be filled with gas or air and provide a soft cushion 16B without the use of foam or foam material, but with air suspension to achieve the desired conformability or compressibility of the cushion 16B. It is noted that while the interior 17D, attachment ring 31B, and inner hemisphere 24H with gap 24J are shown together in fig. 8, only one or a portion of these features are present in earmuff 12B. It is also noted that one, some or all of these features are present in one or both of the earmuffs 12A, 12B.

Fig. 9 shows in a more simplified manner a perspective schematic cross-sectional view of an earmuff 12B of the hearing protector 10 as shown in fig. 7 and 8. As shown, the cushion 16B is attached to one side of the headgear attachment device 24B. The spring element 30B is attached to one side of the carrier 24B opposite to the side to which the pad 16B is attached. Furthermore, the cup 14B is attached to the opposite side of the spring element 30B to the side of the attachment carrier 24B. Similar to fig. 4, cushion 16B includes an opening 17B that facilitates the encapsulation of a wearer's ear (not shown here) by earmuff 12B. In addition to fig. 4, fig. 9 also shows an attachment ring 31B arranged between the carrier 24B and the spring element 30B in the same way as described in fig. 7 and 8. Similar to fig. 7 and 8, the liner 16B includes an interior 17D formed therein that may be filled with a gas or air to provide air suspension of the liner 16B. In addition, fig. 9 shows that the gap 24J between the inner hemisphere 24H and the cup 14B is filled with a noise or vibration damping material, as shown at 24L. Suitable materials for filling include, for example, polyurethane foam and mineral wool. It is noted that while the interior 17D, attachment ring 31B, and inner hemisphere 24H with gap 24J are shown together in fig. 9, only one, some, or all of these features are present in earmuff 12B. It is also noted that one, some or all of these features are present in one or both of the earmuffs 12A, 12B.

Fig. 10 shows in perspective schematic cross-section the earmuff 12B of the hearing protector 10 as shown in fig. 9, but without the noise attenuating material 24L disposed in the gap 24J between the inner hemisphere 24H and the cup 14B. Instead, electronic components indicated with 48B, including speakers, microphones and sensors, are arranged in the gap 24J, such as an active noise cancellation unit, parts of an active communication unit and/or other electronic components of the hearing protector 10, such as sensors, batteries, control units, etc. As shown, the cushion 16B is attached to one side of the headgear attachment device 24B. The spring element 30B is attached to one side of the carrier 24B opposite to the side to which the pad 16B is attached. Furthermore, the cup 14B is attached to the opposite side of the spring element 30B to the side of the attachment carrier 24B. Similar to fig. 4, cushion 16B includes an opening 17B that facilitates the encapsulation of a wearer's ear (not shown here) by earmuff 12B. In addition to fig. 4, fig. 10 also shows an attachment ring 31B arranged between the carrier 24B and the spring element 30B in the same way as described in fig. 7 and 8. Similar to fig. 7 and 8, the liner 16B includes an interior 17D formed therein that may be filled with a gas or air to provide air suspension of the liner 16B. It is noted that while the interior 17D, attachment ring 31B, and inner hemisphere 24H with gap 24J are shown together in fig. 10, only one or a portion of these features are present in earmuff 12B. It is also noted that one, some or all of these features are present in one or both of the earmuffs 12A, 12B.

Claims

1. A hearing protector (10), the hearing protector comprising:

a. two earmuffs (12A, 12B), each earmuff comprising

i. Pads (16A, 16B) having noise attenuation characteristics,

cups (14A, 14B) defining a hollow space and having noise attenuation properties,

a carrier (24A, 24B) comprising at least one earmuff mount (20A, 20B),

b. a U-shaped headband (18) for carrying the two earmuffs (12 a,12 b), alternatively two helmet mounts for carrying the two earmuffs (12 a,12 b) at a protective helmet, the or each helmet mount comprising:

i. two ends, each end having an earmuff attachment device (22A, 22B) for attaching the earmuff (12A, 12B) to the headband (18) or the helmet mount,

wherein the pad (16A, 16B) is connected to the carrier (24A, 24B) such that the pad (16A, 16B) is carried by the carrier (24A, 24B),

wherein the earmuff attachment means (22A, 22B) of the headband (18) or the helmet mount engages the earmuff mount (20A, 20B) of the earmuff (12A, 12B) such that the earmuff (12A, 12B) is carried by the headband (18) or the helmet mount,

wherein each of the earmuffs (12A, 12B) comprises a spring element (30A, 30B) connecting the cup (14A, 14B) with the carrier (24A, 24B),

-wherein the carrier (24 a,24 b) and the pad (16 a,16 b) form a first mass spring system, and wherein the cup (14 a,14 b) and the spring element (30 a,30 b) form a second mass spring system, and

-wherein the spring element (30 a,30 b) is constructed and arranged such that the cup (14 a,14 b) and the carrier (24 a,24 b) are mechanically decoupled from each other.

2. The hearing protector (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element (30 a,30 b) is annular.

3. The hearing protector (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element (30 a,30 b) comprises an elastomeric material, preferably a material selected from thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPU), synthetic rubbers, foam or foamed materials, silicones, metals and/or combinations thereof.

4. The hearing protector (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element (30 a,30 b) is constructed and arranged such that the resonance frequency of the pad (16 a,16 b) together with the carrier (24 a,24 b) is similar to or higher than the resonance frequency of the cup (14 a,14 b) together with the spring element (30 a,30 b).

5. The hearing protector (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cup (14 a,14 b) comprises a moldable material, preferably an injection moldable material, wherein the material is preferably selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), polyvinylchloride, metal or a combination thereof.

6. The hearing protector (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cup (14 a,14 b) has a hemispherical shape.

7. The hearing protector (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (24 a,24 b) is annular.

8. The hearing protector (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (24 a,24 b) comprises a moldable material, preferably an injection moldable material, wherein the material is preferably selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), polyvinylchloride, a metal or a combination thereof.

9. The hearing protector (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cup (14 a,14 b) and/or the carrier (24 a,24 b) further comprises an electronic component (32, 34,40a,40 b), wherein the electronic component (32, 34,40a,40 b) preferably comprises a speaker, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) (36), a sensor, a microphone and/or a battery.

10. The hearing protector (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (24 a, 24B) further comprises an inner hemisphere (24 g,24 h) connected to the carrier (24 a, 24B) and arranged within the cup (14 a, 14B) such that a gap (24 i,24 j) is formed between the inner hemisphere (24 g,24 h) and the cup (14 a, 14B), wherein the gap (24 i,24 j) between the inner hemisphere (24 g,24 h) and the cup (14 a, 14B) preferably comprises a noise attenuating material and/or an electronic component (48B).

11. The hearing protector (10) of claim 10, wherein a speaker, sensor and/or accelerometer is arranged in the gap (24 i,24 j) between the inner hemisphere (24 g,24 h) and the cup (14 a,14 b).

12. The hearing protector (10) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an active noise cancellation unit and/or an active communication unit arranged within one or both of the cups (14 a,14 b) or at one or both of the cups (14 a,14 b).

13. The hearing protector (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element (30 a,30 b) is constructed and arranged such that the resonance frequency of the pad (16 a,16 b) together with the carrier (24 a,24 b) is adapted to the frequency characteristics of a particular noise environment when combined with the resonance frequency of the cup (14 a,14 b) together with the spring element (30 a,30 b).

14. A method of retrofitting a hearing protector with a spring element (30 a,30 b) and a carrier (24 a,24 b), the hearing protector (10) comprising:

a. two earmuffs (12A, 12B), each earmuff comprising

i. Pads (16A, 16B) having noise attenuation characteristics,

cups (14A, 14B) defining a hollow space and having noise attenuation characteristics, wherein the cups (14A, 14B) each include an earmuff mount (20A, 20B),

b. -a U-shaped headband (18) for carrying the two earmuffs (12 a,12 b), alternatively two helmet mounts for carrying the two earmuffs at a protective helmet, the or each helmet mount comprising:

wherein the liner (16A, 16B) is connected to the cup (14A, 14B) such that the liner is carried by the cup (14A, 14B),

the method comprises the following steps:

-detaching said liner (16 a,16 b) from said cup (14 a,14 b);

detaching the earmuffs (12 a,12 b) from the headband (18) or from the helmet mount by separating the earmuff mounts of the cups (14 a,14 b) from the earmuff attachment devices (22 a,22 b);

assembling a spring element (30 a,30 b) at the cup (12 a,12 b) such that the spring element is carried by the cup;

-assembling a carrier (24 a,24 b) on the opposite side of the spring element (30 a,30 b) to the side on which the cup (14 a,14 b) is assembled, such that the carrier is carried by the spring element;

assembling the pads (16A, 16B) to the carrier (24A, 24B) on the opposite side to the side on which the spring element is assembled, such that the pads are carried by the carrier, and

-assembling the earmuffs (12 a,12 b) to the headband (18) or the helmet mount.